What is it the makes a stout a stout? In my opinion, it’s that dark rich color, the bitter taste that lingers like the first swallow of coffee in the morning or the darkness of cacao beans in great dark chocolate, and a well balanced finish that pulls it all together and makes you want to lean back in your chair and just say damn. But where does all this complexity come from? Just like any great beer, it’s all about the grains.
We threw caution to the wind with our last batch and went all grains. This time we moved from the subtlety of the pale ale to the dark complexity of our Zeke Choco Stout (named after our friend’s new lab puppy, who I still think should have been named Porter) We combined 5 different types of barley (11 pounds of grains) which produced our sweetest wort yet. I gotta say I can’t wait for primary fermentation to end to get another taste.
Dear Matthew,
I am very hopeful that you will name your next beer after me!
Love, MOM
mmmm sounds good! can’t wait to try some when i move out there… which should be sooner than later!!
p.s. matt your hair SCARES me in that other picture – you look much better now! good to see you and meet your fellow brewer-in-crime.
Dear Matthew,
You should add music to your blog; maybe some beer drinking songs like “Billy’s Got His Beer Goggles On” by Neil McCoy.
Just trying to be supportive of your endeavors! Love, MOM